March 31, 2015

The addition of bevacizumab to a standard chemotherapy regimen conferred a median 5-month survival improvement among women with ovarian cancer, according to results of a phase 3 study presented at the Society of Gynecologic Oncology’s Annual Meeting on Women’s Cancer.

Robert L. Coleman, MD, FACOG, FACS, the Ann Rife Cox chair in gynecology, vice chair of clinical research and professor in the department of gynecologic oncology and reproductive medicine at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, and colleagues sought to evaluate the addition of bevacizumab (Avastin, Genentech) to standard chemotherapy followed by bevacizumab maintenance in women with platinum-sensitive, recurrent ovarian cancer. Researchers also sought to evaluate the role of secondary cytoreduction before chemotherapy initiation in this population; however, enrollment for this phase is ongoing.